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With apologies to all my lovely English friends!
The Football (World Cup 2022 in Qatar) Oh the football’s on the telly it’s on there every night I really can’t be bothered to watch the very sight… …of brightly coloured little men on patchwork lawn of green chase a leather ball around and call themselves a team It’s better with the sound off without the pundits’ patter they really talk a load of balls I just can’t stand their chatter The passion in the stands, though is very plain to see with every style of fancy dress supporting their country There’s something quite compelling about each country’s pride I find myself drawn in and cheering on a side It’s better that men fight their wars on pitches flat and green than in the trenches or the fields in ways that we have seen Attack, defence and shooting they’re all the words of battle but only arms and legs and pride are injured with a tackle I think I see the point now of what it’s all about the only thing that bothers me - can France boot England out? Jennifer Henderson December 2022
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Thank you First of all, I'd like to say a massive thank you to you for all your support! Running a small business can be a lonely thing to do (also a lovely thing, of course), so all the feedback I receive at markets and elsewhere throughout the year means the world. So, thank you if you came along in person to Poolewe Tuesday market, or Torridon Thursday craft market this year - it was great to meet you! Or if you bought things from any of my stockists, or indeed from my website - thank you. It's all greatly appreciated.
I'm missing my weekly outings to Poolewe Tuesday market (pics of my stall above), and fortnightly trips to Torridon. There may be news in the offing about a market in Gairloch next season - watch this space!  Christmas cards If you've not written your cards yet, (I've only sent the ones that go abroad...) I have a few packs of Christmas cards left. I've added a mixed pack into my website shop, as I realised that not everyone wants a pack that are all one colour... There are two each of red, green and blue in a pack.
Calendars There are a few 2023 calendars left - when they're gone they're gone. As in previous years, each image is printed on the back for use as a postcard. So you can send a postcard every month, or save them up till the end of the year ...
With the end of market season, I've spent the last few weeks updating my website shop (phew!). It now contains most of the items I have for sale. There are mugs, coasters, keyrings, small original artworks and bigger ones too. Also, various sizes of sketchbooks and greetings card collections. If you'd like anything posted to you, please don't delay - the last date I plan to be posting items is Monday 12th December. Writing
In recent times I've been going along to a lovely new event being hosted by Gairloch Museum. The Ceilidh House is a gathering of folk, every fortnight, to share songs, stories, poems and music. These can be our own compositions, or those of others. It has been so lovely to share in this way and it's prompted me to revisit my poems and writings. Perhaps the winter will see a gathering of these into some tangible form. (I do still have a few copies of my two volumes of short stories available). A writers' group is also starting up again here - it's always good to have somewhere to bounce ideas/receive feedback. As I said at the start of this newsletter. Thank you for reading this far! In the meantime, wishing you peace, health and happiness over the festive season. all the best Jennifer  Evening Isles I. Currently on show at An Talla Solais Members' Exhibition in Ullapool. ExhibitionThere's a distinct feel of autumn here in the northwest Highlands now. The wind has risen and is coming from the north today, so the stove has been lit. I'm happy to have a couple of paintings in the Members' Exhibition at An Talla Solais just now. It's in their newly refurbished premises on Market Street in Ullapool (next door to the village hall). Open daily 10-4 until 14th October. There's a wonderful range of work (165 pieces!) from 60 artists. Well worth a visit. 2023 Calendars
Christmas cards
I've just finished designing and printing this year's Christmas cards. A couple of them are shown above. They're monotypes - simple prints using simple materials. The cards have just arrived from the printers and are available now in my website shop. Also directly from me at Poolewe Tuesday market (last market is on 25th October) and Torridon Thursday market (two more to go, on 6th and 20th October) Creativity
It's good to keep on learning. I've just been to a two-day workshop at the wonderful Highland Print Studio in Inverness. I learnt what felt like a huge amount about the process of making a collagraph. It's always great to get your hands dirty and have a go at something different. I did love using the big printing presses...who knows where it might lead? Coming up...Upcoming markets - dates for your diary :
 'Distant Isles I'. Delighted to see this original painting off to a new home last week. Hello, I hope this finds you safe and well. At long last it feels as if some sort of normailty is resuming. I'm so enjoying being at Poolewe Tuesday Market every week. And a trip to Torridon every two weeks to take part in the market there is a joy as well. Having conversations with people, untrammeled by masks, is great! Linoprinting news
Last month I completed a commission - printing a set of notebooks destined to be gifts. The cover design was of Schiehallion, a famous Munro in Perthshire. It was a new direction for me, and fun to do. It has prompted me to look more closely at the mountains nearby - watch this space for further developments! Another new linoprint design is the croft house (image above, printed on a sketchbook). Market days I continue to have a stall at Poolewe Tuesday market and will be there every week until the end of October, except Tuesday 16th August. You can also find me at Torridon Thursday market, twice a month at Loch Torridon Community Centre Hall, in Torridon. The next one is on Thursday 14th July, 10am-3pm. In the meantime, if you're not in Wester Ross, a selection of items is always available in my website shop. Also on the Photo4me and Redbubble websites.
Many thanks for your continued interest in my work.
all the best Jennifer  I hope this finds you safe and well. At long last, it feels as though spring is in the air - there are wild violas in the garden, the larch is covered in bright green paintbrushes of fresh needles and there are primroses in the woods. Visitors have started arriving, places are opening up and it's time to move forward again. New Stockist - The Carron Pottery I'm delighted to say that I now have some of my work in stock at the lovely Carron Pottery, at Cam-allt by Strathcarron. I'm especially happy about this, given my long-standing links with Lochcarron. I spent most of my childhood holidays there, staying in my granny's house in Slumbay - the area is full of happy memories. The Pottery now has a selection of my greetings cards, linoprinted sketchbooks and notebooks and also some small original, mounted watercolours.  Torridon Thursday Market - fortnightly This week saw the first Torridon Thursday Craft and Food Market in Loch Torridon Community Centre Hall. I'm delighted to be taking part this year - I'll be there every two weeks with a selection of my original artwork and gifts. The next market will be on Thursday 28th April, 10am - 3pm. There is a lovely mixture of stallholders, all with a warm welcome. Poolewe Tuesday Market I'm happy to say that this market is up and running again (the first one was on 29th March). I'll be there every week until the end of the season, at the end of October. This year sees some lovely new stallholders joining in, as there is space for a few more folk again. It's always lovely to meet new people and catch up with folk. I look forward to seeing you there! It's on every Tuesday from 10am - 2.30pm.  The linoprinted sketchbooks and notebooks are proving to be very popular. I now have a wider range of sizes - from A6 size, plain cartridge paper, to 11 x 11 inch large square sketchbooks. Selected sizes are currently available from Gairloch Museum, Poolewe Tuesday Market, Torridon Thursday Market, Loch Torridon Community Centre Gallery, Carron Pottery, and The Button Bothy in Poolewe.  Exhibition at Inverewe Garden, Poolewe
I'm happy to be part of a mixed exhibition at Inverewe Garden: Opened on Friday 15th April In Osgood's Cafe - at the top of the main car park. On show until further notice. Many thanks for your continued interest in my work. all the best Jennifer  I hope this finds you safe and well. Happy New Year! I know it's a little late in the day to be sending such greetings, but I feel as if I am stepping rather tentatively into 2022. This time last year we were in lockdown once more and it's quite hard to believe we are now free to be out and about and that everything is opening up again. I find myself blinking in the rare glimpses of winter sunshine, as if coming out hibernation, starting to believe that it really is possible to move forward again.  Delighted to say that I donated £55 to the World Wide Fund for Nature, from all the Christmas card sales at the end of last year! Many thanks to everyone who bought cards - much appreciated. I received a lot of positive feedback about the designs, which is encouraging me to explore other avenues along similar lines. Watch this space...
I've been updating my website shop - a continuous task, like painting the Forth Rail Bridge, which never ends, but is nonetheless very satisfying. I've added a range of items back in, including some original linoprints.  Back in the studio The winter skies here can be very dramatic and are an endless source of inspiration. The trick is to have everything ready to go - paper stretched onto boards, paints, water and brushes organised. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Of course, in real life that's not how it goes - I've finally got back into the studio to do some painting - above is a work in progress. Or maybe it's finished? I've been adding islands into my seascapes recently - decision, decisions!
Coming up
The lovely Gairloch Museum is reopening for the season next week, on Thursday 10th February. I'll be along to check on my cards and sketchbook stock in the gift shop. I'm looking forward to taking part in Poolewe Tuesday Market again this year - from the end of March until the end of October, all being well. I'm hoping to be there most weeks - I'll let you know dates as soon as I know. It's also looking likely that I'll be exhibiting some artwork at Inverewe this year (I was to have had an exhibition in the cafe there in 2020, which of course did not happen). It will be great to see art exhibitions happening there again. You can find out more on the Galleries @ Inverewe website. Many thanks for your continued interest in my work. Wishing you peace, health and joy in 2022. Jennifer
Three small original watercolours - Maybe IV, Maybe V and Maybe VI I hope this finds you safe and well. The weather here turned wintry quite suddenly, with autumn being rather damp this year. The colours were still beautiful, if muted. It's been wild and windy outside, with rain and hail showers and snow on the mountain tops. Time to stoke up the fire and hunker down! Many thanks to everyone who came along to the Christmas markets at Poolewe Hall recently and also the Soup Lunch at Gairloch Community Hall yesterday.  I'm delighted to have two small paintings on show in the winter exhibition (until 18th December) of local artists at Gairloch Museum. The one above is entitled "Fire and Ice". Museum now open winter hours : Wednesday - Saturday, 11am - 4pm. The cafe is open too - I can highly recommend it.
I have a few 2022 calendars left - they are still in my website shop. When they're gone, they're gone...  I've been delighted by the feedback about this year's Christmas card designs - thank you so much! I'll be letting you know about my promised donation to World Wide Fund for Nature in the New Year. There are a few packs left, if you've not written yours yet...
In the meantime, Season's Greetings and all the very best for the New Year. Thank you so much for your continued interest in my work. Jennifer  Rust and lichen. Abstract image - included in my 2022 photography calendar. I hope this finds you safe and well. Summer days are gone now here in the northwest Highlands, with blustery showers and dramatic skies taking their place. I do love this time of year and am looking forward to the autumn colours appearing - there are hints of them already, in the bracken and some of the trees. 2022 calendars It's that time of year again - I took delivery of next year's calendars recently. As before, they are slimline ones, with images printed on the back for use as postcards. The images are all photographs taken locally over the past year or so. Seascapes, sandscapes and textures that caught my eye - from corrugated iron to barnacles on a rock. A few images are shown below. Calendars are now available to order from my website. If you live locally, they're available directly from me at Poolewe Tuesday market until the end of October. Also being stocked at the Button Bothy at Poolewe Hall. End of an era I've been very happy to have some of my work - mugs, coasters and cards - stocked in the lovely Cabinet Ullapool, and also to have exhibited at An Talla Solais gallery on West Argyle Street in Ullapool. The premises had to be vacated, so it's time for a new chapter for An Talla Solais and Cabinet. They still have premises in the town and plans are afoot for what happens next. I'll keep you posted!  Christmas cards I'm happy to say that this year's Christmas cards are now available. I spent a happy couple of days arranging beach treasure - shells, pebbles, driftwood - to make this year's designs. I always knew all these natural materials would come in handy one day! I've decided, given current circumstances, to donate 10% of all Christmas card sales to the World Wide fund for Nature (Scotland). There are 6 different designs (4 shown below). Available now from my website, in packs of 6 cards with envelopes :
Exhibition at Gairloch Museum Coming soon - a winter exhibition of small works by selected local artists, at Gairloch Museum. I will be submitting two paintings for this - the exhibition opens at the start of November. Information about opening times will be available nearer the time. Poolewe Christmas Markets Happy to say that I'll be at both the Poolewe Christmas Markets this year:
 Photography
I'm still taking photographs - nearly every day, when I'm out walking. Mostly on my phone, but sometimes using my camera. The phone ones are regularly posted on Instagram. A wide selection of images is available to purchase in various sizes and formats via Photo4me - a subset of these can be seen on my website. Thank you for your continued interest in my work. If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch. all the best Jennifer  'Distant Isles II'. Currently on show at Loch Torridon community centre gallery. I hope this finds you safe and well end enjoying the summer. It's good to hear that things are opening up again - it's been a long time coming. New moving image work on show In my previous newsletter, I mentioned that some new work had been selected for an upcoming exhibition. I'm happy to let you know that the online exhibition, 'A Space Between', curated by the Society of Scottish Artists, is now open and is available to view until 5th September. My moving image piece, combining photography, spoken word and recorded sound, is called 'Sand'. There is a lovely range of work to enjoy.  Postcards now available I've produced a set of six postcards featuring local scenes and landmarks (4 are shown below) and am happy to say these are now available from a couple of local stockists - Gairloch Gifts (at the Filling Station) and the GALE centre. They're also available directly from me at Poolewe Tuesday Market. I'm there most weeks until the end of October. Details of dates are available on my website. Some of these images are also available as photographic prints and canvases via my photography portfolio on the Photo4me website. Restock of Loch Torridon community centre gallery I delivered some new work to the lovely Loch Torridon community centre gallery the other day - several seascapes (see top image) and a selection of small works and greetings cards. I'm happy to say that they're now also stocking a selection of my customised sketchbooks and notebooks. The gallery has a great mix of work on show (including ceramics, baskets, glasswork and more, see images below) and there is a lovely popup cafe, which is open Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm.
Many thanks for your continued interest in my work. Do pop by and say hello at Poolewe Tuesday market, if you're in the area. best regards Jennifer  'Distant Isles III' - off to a new home via the An Talla Solais Members' Show. I hope this finds you safe and well. The past few months have been busy with supplying my stockists, as everywhere gradually opens up again. It has been good to be back at Poolewe Tuesday Market again - there are always interesting conversations to be had with visitors, as well as with my fellow stallholders. It's great to hear how many creative folk are around!
Inchgowan Fine Art Inchgowan Fine Art is opposite The Old Inn, just along from Gairloch Harbour, over the old bridge. I'm delighted to announce that I now have artwork on show at a lovely local gallery - Inchgowan Fine Art in Gairloch (formerly Solas Gallery). There's some framed work on the walls, mounted work in a browser and smaller framed and mounted work - all original watercolours and mixed media. The two paintings shown below - 'Coastal 6' and 'Shore 1' are currently on show there. There is an interesting mix of work by several artists - well worth a visit!
New stockist The gift shop at Gairloch Filling Station has recently been extended and revamped into a great space. Happy to say I have some items available there - selected mug, coaster and greetings card designs. Open Monday - Saturday 8.30am - 5.30pm.
New work - new directions I recently submitted some work to the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA), of which I'm a member, in a new format for me - moving image, or more specifically, a film poem. It's called 'Sand'. I've spent a lot of time walking on sandy beaches (very lucky, I know) over the past couple of years, which inspired the (spoken) words and images. I am delighted to say that my piece has been selected to be shown in an online exhibition on the SSA website in August! I'm very happy with this outcome, as I'd been keen to combine words and images (and other sounds) for a while and this provided an ideal opportunity. The theme for the open call was "A Space Between'. I'll let you know when it's available to view online. Sand photograph - a still image from my first film poem.  Coming Soon .... Do you still send postcards when you're away on holiday? I know, I know, we've forgotten what it's like to be away on holiday. Here's hoping you get to travel before too long. I was away for a break last week, in another beautiful part of Scotland - yes, there are definitely other beautiful parts - and it was so refreshing to have a change of scene. We don't need to go far to get the holiday feeling, I believe. Back to postcards ... there's a new project in the offing, more news soon! Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Here's a sneak preview.
As always, a selection of my work can be seen on my website. As things have opened up in recent times, I have been open for prearranged studio visits - these will recommence later this month. It's so much better to see artwork in real life than on a screen!
Thank you for your continued interest in my work. I hope you're enjoying the summer, wherever you may be. best regards Jennifer |
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